Device for inspecting continuous picture films



Patented Feb. 4, 1930 ALLAN c. sanennr, or wn srroan, MASSACHUSETTS DEVICE FOR INSPECTING CONTINUOUS PICTURE FILMS Application filed October 27, 1927. Serial Ila-229,238.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the rapid inspection of moving picture films and the like, and the principal objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus in which the films can be inserted in the machine, wound up in a roll, moved through the machine, and wound up on another roll and conveniently inspected under a glass as they move along; also to provide means whereby the film will be illuminated at the point of inspection and a convenient support for the diflerent parts. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which ig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same, and

of Fig. 1. Y

The machine, as shown in the drawings, involves a base 10'having two pairs of stan dards 11 at opposite ends, each provided with a bearing for a shaft 12. The two shafts 12 are designed for having wound thereon a roll, as 13 and 14, of moving picture films.

Mounted on the two sets of standards are additional shafts 15, each provided with a crank handle 16 for operating the machine by hand, if desired, or it can be operated in any I other desired way. On this shaft 15 is a gear 17 meshing with a pinion 18 on the shaft 12-. In this way the two shafts 12 or at least the one on which the film is to be wound, can be turned to wind up the film on one and unwind it from the other.

- Each of the shafts 12 may be provided with a brake for preventing the line of films from the unwinding shaft getting loose and for holding it in a taut condition from the roll on that shaft to the nearest of the two guide rolls.

The film from the roll 13 is supposed to be in the process of being unwound. In the position shown, it passes under a pair of rolls 18 so as to present a horizontal strand at a point directly above a ground glass 19. This ound glass is lighted up below by an incanso 5 escent or other lamp 20 mounted in a re- Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 by any person skilled in the art witho'ut decess in the base 10 and provided with a reflector 21 for an obvious purpose.

Extending up from the base is a frame 22 carrying the horizontal support 23 at'the top in which is an inspecting lens 24.

The 0 eration will be obvious. The film is wound i rom the roll 13 on the roll 14 by the crank on that side, and passes as rapidly as the operator may desire over the ground glass plate and is inspected for the purpose of magnifying the defects and expediting the edit ing or cutting out of the imperfect pictures. It is obvious that the machine can be run in either direction as shown, although it is not necessary to have cranks on both shafts 15,

because one of them can always be used for the operating or winding up shaft.

When the film is entirely wound up on the left-hand shaft as shown in Fig. 1, the shaft with the film is removed, the shaft taken out and another film put on it and replaced, if desired, to wind in the other direction, or another roll of film can be put on the other shaft for the same purpose.

It will be obvious, that this machine is a very simple mechanism for accomplishing the objects specified, and that it can be run in either direction all the time, or alternately in opposite directions for separate films. The inspection is as rapid as the operator may desire, and the defects are very easily seen.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the invention, I am aware of the fact that changes can be made therein parting from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claim.

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact form shown, but what I do claim 1s:

In a device for inspecting moving picture films and the like, the combination with a pair of shafts on one of which a roll of films is adapted to be wound, each of said shafts having 'a pinion thereon, of a second pair of shafts, each having a gear meshing with the pinion, a crank on each of the last named shafts so that the first named shafts can be wound up in either direction, a

pair of rolls located at a distance below the shafts to provide a straight strand of film throughout a part of the course, and a. lens located above this straight strand for inspecting the film as it is wound from one shaft to the other.

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto af- 7 fixed my signature.

ALLAN o. SARGENT. 

